This guidance is for UK community pharmacists and pharmacy teams. There is also guidance for commissioners, which is clearly stated as being for commissioners, but most of the guidance is for pharmacy teams. If the guidance is for a specific role, this is also specified. The guidance outlines good practice for services delivered by community pharmacies in England to people who use and misuse, or are dependent on, drugs and alcohol (mostly abbreviated in this document to drug and alcohol use).

It aims to:

• assist the commissioning and delivery of high quality, safe and effective care that can engage more people in drug and alcohol treatment
• reduce harms associated with drug and alcohol use, including deaths from accidental overdose
• Community pharmacy is vital to the care of people who use drugs and alcohol. Pharmacies are well-placed in local communities to deliver high impact and accessible services.